Locking means for door latches



Aug. 16, 1927. 1,639,103

L. OTTINGER LOCKING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed Sept. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hz v 1 M ATTORNEY Aug. 16,1927.

1,639,103 L.OTTINGEYR LOCKING MEANS FOR DOOR LATCHES Filed Sept, 5, 192.5 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR M ATTOR EY Patented Aug. 16, 1927.

UNITED STATES LEON OTTINGER, 01 NEW YORK, N. Y.

LOCKING MEANS FOR DOOR LATGHES.

Application 111mv September 5, 1925. Serial No. 54,645.

the door without the use of the proper 'ey" may be effectually prevented. Heretofore, in such devices where the key actuated locking means is mounted in the latch handle, keeper means has been provided on the escutcheon plate fixed to the front face of the door for the purpose of receiving the locking bolt. Since it has been customary to attach the escutcheon plate by means of screws, it is a more or less simple matter to operate the handle so that the latch mechanism may be operated by simply removing the screws and then pulling the handle outwardly to disengage the escutcheon from the door. My

' present improvements are primarily characterized by the fact that the locking means in the latch operating handle is wholly independent of the escutcheon and is so located relative to the outer face of the door as to be practically inaccessible. Moreover, I preferably eliminate the use of screws for attaching the escutcheon and permanently fix the escutcheon in place by means which is also inaccessible so that the escutcheon cannot possibly be removed and an implement inserted through the latch handle opening for the purpose of manipulating the locking bolt. To this end, in one practical embodiment of the invention, I preferably secure the keeper member to the latch case so that it will be properly positioned to receive the locking bolt when the latch handle is subsequently connected to the actuating rollback for the latch mechanism.

I It is a further general object of the invention to provide a locking means for door latches as above characterized, whichconsists of relatively few parts of simple form and which may, therefore, be produced at small cost and easily applied without necessitating any radical changes in the door structure.

-With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the improved locking means for door latches, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of its several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and subsequently. incorporated in the subjoined claims.

In the drawingsbwherein I have illustrated several simple and'satisfactory embodiments of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several v1ews, Q

Figure 1 is a horizontal section through a portion of an automobile door showing a latch operating handle equipped with my improved locking means arranged in its applied position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of the device;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4';

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5 M

Fig. 7 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 77 of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 8 is a detail section taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and for the present more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 thereof, for purposes of illustration I have shown a section of a motor vehicle door 5, the front surface of which is covered by a. metal face plate 6. To the rear face of the door structure, the latch case indicated at 7 is adapted tobe secured. The latch mechanism may be of any desired type, and is actuated by means of the exterior handle through the medium ,of the usual rollback 8 mounted at its ends inthe opposite side walls of the latch case.

For the purpose'of receiving the latch op-- erating handle a transverse opening 9 is formed through the door structure 5, and at the outer end of this opening, the face plate 6 is also provided with an opening 10. As herein shown, a hollow sheet metal escutcheon member 11 is rovided at its rear side with a reduced tu ular extension engaged throu h the opening in the face plate 6, and rom which locking tongues indicated at 12 are bent outwardly over the inner face of said plate. This hollow escutcheon member carries an annular flexible bearing element 13 through which the shank of the latch operating handle is positioned and which will automatically accommodate itself to any misalignment in the axis of the opening 9 through the door structure to the axis of the rollback 8. No claim is herein made to this combination escutcheon and bearing for the latch operating handle, since such subject matter is fully described and claimed in a co-pending application for patent Serial No. 696,426, filed by me on March 3, 1924.

The latch operating handle 14 at itsouter end may be of any desired form and is provided with a cylindrical shank 15 in the end of which a longitudinally projecting hardened steel shaft 16 preferably of rectangular form is cast or otherwise rigidly fixed. The end of this shaft is adapted for engagement in the rectangular bore of the rollback 8 and is rigidly fixed thereto by means of the transverse locking screw 17.' However, any other desired means for connecting the handle shaft to therollback may be employed.

A pin tumbler key actuated lock of any desired type is mounted in the outer end of the handle 14 and the lock cylinder 18 is provided at its inner end with a longitudinal extension 19 rotatably engaged in the bore 20 of the handle shank and secured against axial movement therein by means of a suitable key pin indicated at 21. The inner end of the cylinder extension 19 is provided with an eccentric stud 22. A looking bolt 23 is slidably mounted in a transverse opening 24 through the handle shank which intersects the bore 20 and this bolt is provided in one edge thereof with a recess 25 to receive the stud 22. In its other edge said bolt is provided with spaced notches 26 to receive a spring detent 27 fixed to the handle shaft. This specific lock mechanism constitutes no essential part of my present improvements and any other desired locking means may be substituted therefor. However, it is important to observe that whatever the form of this locking mechanism may be, the locking bolt 23 is located at a substantial distance inwardly "from the outer end of the latch handle opening and the escutcheon member 11.

The wall of the latch case 7 which is engaged with the base of the mortise in the.

door structure is provided at properly spaced points with threaded openings therein to receive the attaching screws 30 which are engaged through apertured laterally projecting lugs 29 on one end of a sleeve 28. This sleeve is of appreciably less external diameter than the diameter of the opening 9 through the door structure so that when the latch is applied, said sleeve may occupy a position extending into the inner end of said opening in eccentric relation to the axis of the opening, as indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, but in concentric relation with the axial center of the rollback 8. After the latch case with the sleeve 28 applied thereto has been fixed upon the door structure, the latch operating handle is then inserted through the bearing carried by the escutcheon member and through the sleeve 28, the end of the handle shaft 16 being rigidly secured to the latch operating rollback. When the latch handle is thus attached, the locking bolt 23 is in proper position so that when projected to locking position it will engage in a keeper slot or recess 31 formed in the outer end of the sleeve 28.

From the above description, the operation and several advantages of this embodiment of the device will be clearly understood. When the proper operating key is inserted in the cylinder lock and the lock cylinder rotated through approximately 180 in one di rection, the eccentric stud 22 engages in the notch 25 and shifts the bolt 23 to its locking position in the recess of the keeper sleeve 28. thus effectually preventing the turning of the handle to rotate the rollback 8 and retract the latch bolt so that the door may be opened. It Will be seen that such an arrangement requires no change in the construction of the escutcheon member, and that owing to the location of the keeper sleeve 28 and the latchbolt 23, these parts are entirely inaccessible from the exterior of the door and since the fastening means for the escutcheon is also inaccessible, it is impossible to manipulate the locking bolt by the insertion of a wire or other implement through the latchhandle opening, and it is apparent that it would likewise be impossible to insert such manipulating means between the shank of the latch handle and the surface of the bearing 13. Accordingly, it will be understood that my present improve ment entirely-precludes the possibility of the door latch being operated and the door opened by one not possessed of the proper key for the cylinder look.

In Figs. 4 to 8 of the drawings, I have il lustrated an alternative construction wherein the handle is normally free or disconnected from the rollback, and is connected therewith by means actuated by the key operated cylinder look. In this construction, the handle shank extending through the door opening is formed with a tubular portion 32. The rollback shaft 16 at one end is provided with an enlarged cylindrical head 33 loosely fitting within the end of the tubular part 32 of the handle shank so that said shank may rotate freely relative to the head 33. Said shaft and head are, however, connected and held against relative longitudinal movement by means of suitable keys 34. The outer side of the head 33 is centrally provided with a rectangular lug 35 thereon.

The extension-19 of the lock cylinder which is mounted in the outer end of the handle is rotatably engaged in the longitudinal bore of a cylindrical bolt 36 which is axially movable in the tubular section 32 of the handle shank. This bolt at one end is provided with a key way 37 to receive the key lug 38 fixed to the wall of the handle shank which prevents relative turning movement of said handle shank and the cylindrical bolt 36. This bolt is also provided with a spiral c-ircumferentially extending slot 39 in which a radially projecting stud 40 fixed in the lock cylinder extension 19' is engaged. The inner end of the bolt 36 has a reduced extension provided in its end face with a rectangular recess 41 to receive the lug 35 on the head of the rollback shaft 16. Between said head and the bolt 36 and surrounding the reduced end of the latter, an expansion spring 42 is interposed and normally tends to hold the bolt 36 in the position seen in Fig. 5 of the drawings and disconnected fromthe rollback shaft.

For the purpose of preventing casual rotation of the handle shank and the bolt 36 relative to the rollback shaft I may provide a leaf spring 43 extending transversely across the opening through the door and having its opposite ends fixed in the door structure and bearing at its intermediate portion upon a flattened surface 44 formed on one side of the handle shank.

In the operation of the embodiment of the device above described, it will be seen that when the proper key is inserted in the cylinder lock and the cylinder turned, the lug 40 carried by the cylinder extension will exert a camming action on the walls of the spiral slot 39 of the bolt 36 and shift said bolt longitudinally in the tubular section 32 of the handle shank, thereby compressing the spring 42 until the lug 35 is received invthe recess 41 of the bolt 36. Thus the bolt is connected with the rollback shaft so that when the handle is now rotated the latch mechanism will be.actuated by said rollback to retract the latch bolt and thus permit of I the opening of the.door. When the handle is released and returned to its norfnal position by the projection of the latch bolt, the rotation of the lock cylinder is reversed, thus reversing the movement of the bolt Y36 and disengaging said bolt from the lug 35. The

key is then withdrawn from the lock cylinder and it will be apparent that since the handle shank may rotate freely with respect to the rollback shaft 16, that any attempt to retract the latch bolt by operation of the handle will be futile. In this instance, as in the construction above described, it will also be noted that the locking means whereby operation of the latch is prevented is so located and arranged that no part thereof is accessible from the exterior of the door structure and that therefore, the door may be opened only by the use of the proper key. How ever, for reasons which will be apparent, I prefer the construction first above described.

From the foregoing description considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have devised a very simple and easily operated handle locking means for automobile door latches which entirely precludes the possibility of access being gained to the interior of the vehicle by persons other than the owner or one possessed of the proper key. This locking means, especially as shown in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, consists of very few parts which are of simple construction, and may be easily assembled. While I prefer to use in connection with my improved latch handle lock a combined escutcheon and bearing member as shown in my co-pending application, it will be understood that this is not essential, since even if the usual type of escutcheon member is em loyed, owing to the location of the lock bo t and the keeper means therefor, it would not be possible to gain access to the latter for purposes of manipulation though the escutcheon is removed from its applied position.

I have herein described and shown several practical constructions of my present improvements, but it will be apparent that the device is susceptible of embodiment in various other alternative forms, and I therefore, reserve the privilege of iesorting to all such legitimate changes as may be fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim:

1. In combination with a door having an opening therethrough and a latch secured to the door at one end of said opening, an operating handle for said latch having a shank positioned through said opening, relatively fixed keeper means within said opening intermediate the ends thereof, a locking element to cooperate with the shank and the keeper means and lock the handle against rotation, and key actuated means having a part cooperating with said element to move the same to and from its locking position with respect to said keeper means and the handle shank.

2. In combination with a door having an opening therethrough, a latch secured to the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon secured to the door at the other end of said opening; an operating handle for said latch having a shank positioned through said opening, and means for preventing actuation of the latch by said handle including a key actuated member carried by said shank and located within the door structure in longitudinally spaced relation from the escutcheon member.

I transverse opening therethrough, a latch se-.

3. In combination with a door having an opening therethrough, a latch secured to the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon secured to the door at the other end of said opening; an operating handle for said latch having a shank positioned through said opening, and locking-means for said handle including a key actuated member carried by said shank, and a relatively fixed keeper positioned intermediate of the ends of said opening for engagement by said member.

4. In combination with a door having a transverse opening therethrough, a latch secured to the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon secured to the door at the other end of said opening; an operating.

handle for said latch having a shank positioned through the escutcheon and said opening and connected with a part of the latch, and means for locking said operating handle including a key actuated member mounted in the handle shank, and a relatively fixed keeper positioned in said opening in spaced relation to the escutcheon and with which said member is adapted to be engaged to lock the handle against turning movement.

5. In combination with a door having a transverse opening therethrough, a latch secured to the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon secured to the door at the other end of said opening; an operating handle for the latch having a shank positioned through the escutcheon and said opening and connected to a part of the latch mechanism,

a keeper member fixed to the latch case, and locking means for said handle including a key actuated locking bolt mounted in the handle shank and adapted to be projected into locking engagement with said keeper.

6. In combination with adoor having a cured to the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon secured to the door at the other end of said opening; an operating handle for said latch extending through said door and the opening and connected'to a part of the latch mechanism, a sleeve fixed to thelatch case and extending into the inner end of said opening and loosely receiving the handle shank, said sleeve having a keeper recess in the wall thereof, and locking means for the handle including a key actuated locking bolt mounted on the handle shank and adapted to be projected into the recess of said sleeve.

7. In combination with a door having a transverse opening therethrough, a latch se-' cured to the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon secured to the door at the other end of said opening; a fixed sleeve extending into the inner end of said opening and terminating in spaced relation to the escutcheon, an operating handle for said .operable key-controlled means latch having a shank positioned through the escutcheon and said sleeve and connected to a partof the latch mechanism, and locking means for said handle. including a key actuated member carried by said shank and adapted to be projected into locking engagement with said sleeve.

8. In combination with. a door having a transverse opening therethrough, a latch fixed to the inner side of the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon permanently secured to the door at the outer end of said opening; an opeiating handle for said latch having a shank extending through the escutcheon and said opening and connected to a part of the latch mechanism, a fixed keeper member positioned in said opening and longitudinally spaced from the escutcheon, and locking means for said handle including a key actuated locking bolt adapted to be projected into locking engagement with said keeper member.

9. In combination with a door having a transverse opening therethrough, a latch fixed to the inner side of the door at one end of said opening and an escutcheon permanently secured to the door at the outer end of said opening; an operating handle for said latch having a shank extending through the e scutcheon and said opening and connected to a part of the latch mechanism, a keeper member fixed to the latch case and projecting into said opening and terminating in spaced relation to the escutcheon member, and locking means for the handle including a key actuated bolt mounted in the handle shank and adapted to be projected into locking engagement with said keep-er member.

'10. In combination with a door and a latch secured to the inner side of said door, a latch operating handle extending through the door from the outer side thereof, keeper means fixed with relation to the handle at the inner side of the-door. andhandle locking means including a shiftable locking element remote from thejouter face of the door and cooperating in one position thereof with the handle and said keeper means to lock the latch handle against rotation.

11. In combination with a door and a latch secured to the inner side of said door, a latch operating handle extending through the door from the outer side thereof, keeper means fixed with relation to the handle at the in ner side of the door, handle locking means including a shift-able locking element remote from the outer faceof the door and cooperating in one position thereof with the handle and said keeper means to lock the latch handle against rotation, and manually for actuating said locking element.

12. In combination with a door and a latch secured to the inner side of said door, a

A latch operating handle extending through the door from the outer side thereof; keeper means fixed with relation to the handle at the inner side of the door, and locking means carried by said handle including a shiftable locking element to cooperate with said keeper means, and means for shifting said locking element to and from its locking position.

13. In combination with a doorhaving a transverse opening therethrough, a latch secured to the door and having an actuating element in line with said opening, an operating handle for the latch having ashank positioned through said opening and .fixed at one end to said actuating element, a fixed keeper positioned externally of the latch case and in remote relation to the outer end of said opening, and a key-actuated looking bolt movably mounted on the handle shank for engagement with said keeper to lock the handle against turning movement.

14. In combination with a door having a transverse opening therethrough, a latch secured to the inner side of the door having an actuating element in line with said opening, a bearing mounted upon the door at the outer end of said opening, a keeper on the outer side of the latch case, an operating handle for the latch having a shank supported in said bearing and fixed at one of its ends to the latch actuating element, and a key-actuated locking member carried by said shank and movable thereon into engagement with said keeper to lock the handle against turning movement.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention, I have signed my name hereto.

LEON OTTINGER. 

